'Tis the season of Christmas carols. I have a rather low tolerance for most ones created after the nineteenth century, but I adore just about any of the old carols, the folk songs. The Holly and the Ivy, Good King Wenceslas, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, those kind. They get me (after simply being happy listening to how beautiful they are) thinking along lines of the continuity of human experience over time, that these songs have lasted so long, partly preserved through the maelstrom of cultural changes by the continued existence of Christmas. Not that it's hard to get me thinking along such lines, on just about any topic. I'm just sayin'.

contents of the purple tricycle are copyright 2003 carrie lynn king unless otherwise noted.